Bloodless coup

1 September 1969

In his youth, Muammar Gaddafi was an admirer of Arab nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. He first hatched plans to topple Libya's monarchy as a young soldier. A charismatic figure, he received army training in the UK before returning to Libya to overthrow King Idris in a bloodless coup on 1 September 1969.

Early days

1970s

Col Gaddafi, seen here on the far right, set about securing his hold on power in the 1970s. He developed his political philosophy known as the Green Book and took on foreign oil interests in Libya. He also played a key role in the Middle East oil crisis of 1973-74 and fostered links with fellow African and other regional leaders. His attempts to represent pan-African interests were not ultimately successful.

Yvonne Fletcher

April 1984

An anti-Gaddafi protest outside Libya's London embassy turned into a major international incident when a young police officer, Yvonne Fletcher, was shot and killed by a gunman in the embassy. Diplomatic ties with Libya were cut and Col Gaddafi's path towards pariah status was now well established.

US attacks

15 April 1986

Col Gaddafi's courting of militant groups, including the Irish Republican Army and the Palestine Liberation Organisation earned him the "mad dog" label from US President Ronald Reagan. The US responded to Libya's alleged involvement in a terror attack in Europe with air strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi. Col Gaddafi was said to have been badly shaken by the bombings, in which his adopted daughter reportedly died.

Lockerbie

21 December 1988

The bombing of Pan-Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie was the next significant escalation in tensions. Libya was blamed for causing the deaths of 270 people in the air and on the ground, the worst single act of terrorism ever witnessed in the UK. Col Gaddafi's initial refusal to hand over the two Libyan suspects to be tried resulted in a protracted period of negotiations and UN sanctions.

Co-operation

1999 - 2003

In 1999, two Libyans were handed over and tried in a Scottish court for the Lockerbie bombing, one was found guilty. The resolution of the case, along with Col Gaddafi's subsequent admission and renunciation of a covert nuclear and chemical weapons programme, paved the way for a significant warming of relations between Tripoli and Western powers.

In from the cold

March 2004

With international sanctions lifted, Tripoli was back on the international political itinerary, allowing British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among other leading figures, to drop in at Col Gaddafi's famously luxurious Bedouin tent erected in his palace grounds. Mr Blair visited in 2004 and again in 2007.

The longest speech

23 September 2009

Col Gaddafi's maverick status was confirmed when he gave his first address to the UN general assembly. It lasted 96 minutes, over an hour longer than his allotted time. The Libyan leader launched into a passionate and wide-ranging invective in which he touched on everything from the failings of the Security Council to his theory that swine flu was developed for military purposes.

Protests spread

February 2011

Inspired by events in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt and sparked by the arrest of a Libyan human rights campaigner, protests against Col Gaddafi's four-decade rule began in February. Starting in the east, where he staged his coup more than 40 years earlier, they spread across the country. Col Gaddafi remained uncompromising and vowed to crush the rebellion.

Nato attacks

19 - 20 March 2011

With Col Gaddafi showing signs of being on the brink of crushing the rebellion, Nato launched air strikes against Libyan targets to "protect civilian lives". Air power saved the rebels and with further outside help they eventually made progress in their ambition to oust the Libyan leader. International support for Col Gaddafi drained away over the following weeks as the rebels gained official recognition from France and other nations.

Tripoli falls

23 August 2011

Six months after the protests began, Libya's rebels finally made it to Tripoli. With Nato air strikes having weakened Col Gaddafi's forces over many months, rebel soldiers entered the capital and soon overwhelmed his compound. It was the beginning of the end for Col Gaddafi, who continued to issue appeals for his supporters to fight on as he went to ground.

Killed in Sirte

20 October 2011

Col Gaddafi died after being caught by rebel forces in his home town of Sirte, a stronghold for loyalist fighters. News of his capture came soon after rebels claimed control of the town following weeks of fierce fighting. National Transitional Council (NTC) officials said Col Gaddafi was wounded in a gunfight and died of his injuries.

Magellan

Bloodless coup

1 September 1969

In his youth, Muammar Gaddafi was an admirer of Arab nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. He first hatched plans to topple Libya's monarchy as a young soldier. A charismatic figure, he received army training in the UK before returning to Libya to overthrow King Idris in a bloodless coup on 1 September 1969.

Early days

1970s

Col Gaddafi, seen here on the far right, set about securing his hold on power in the 1970s. He developed his political philosophy known as the Green Book and took on foreign oil interests in Libya. He also played a key role in the Middle East oil crisis of 1973-74 and fostered links with fellow African and other regional leaders. His attempts to represent pan-African interests were not ultimately successful.

Yvonne Fletcher

April 1984

An anti-Gaddafi protest outside Libya's London embassy turned into a major international incident when a young police officer, Yvonne Fletcher, was shot and killed by a gunman in the embassy. Diplomatic ties with Libya were cut and Col Gaddafi's path towards pariah status was now well established.

US attacks

15 April 1986

Col Gaddafi's courting of militant groups, including the Irish Republican Army and the Palestine Liberation Organisation earned him the "mad dog" label from US President Ronald Reagan. The US responded to Libya's alleged involvement in a terror attack in Europe with air strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi. Col Gaddafi was said to have been badly shaken by the bombings, in which his adopted daughter reportedly died.

Lockerbie

21 December 1988

The bombing of Pan-Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie was the next significant escalation in tensions. Libya was blamed for causing the deaths of 270 people in the air and on the ground, the worst single act of terrorism ever witnessed in the UK. Col Gaddafi's initial refusal to hand over the two Libyan suspects to be tried resulted in a protracted period of negotiations and UN sanctions.

Co-operation

1999 - 2003

In 1999, two Libyans were handed over and tried in a Scottish court for the Lockerbie bombing, one was found guilty. The resolution of the case, along with Col Gaddafi's subsequent admission and renunciation of a covert nuclear and chemical weapons programme, paved the way for a significant warming of relations between Tripoli and Western powers.

In from the cold

March 2004

With international sanctions lifted, Tripoli was back on the international political itinerary, allowing British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among other leading figures, to drop in at Col Gaddafi's famously luxurious Bedouin tent erected in his palace grounds. Mr Blair visited in 2004 and again in 2007.

The longest speech

23 September 2009

Col Gaddafi's maverick status was confirmed when he gave his first address to the UN general assembly. It lasted 96 minutes, over an hour longer than his allotted time. The Libyan leader launched into a passionate and wide-ranging invective in which he touched on everything from the failings of the Security Council to his theory that swine flu was developed for military purposes.

Protests spread

February 2011

Inspired by events in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt and sparked by the arrest of a Libyan human rights campaigner, protests against Col Gaddafi's four-decade rule began in February. Starting in the east, where he staged his coup more than 40 years earlier, they spread across the country. Col Gaddafi remained uncompromising and vowed to crush the rebellion.

Nato attacks

19 - 20 March 2011

With Col Gaddafi showing signs of being on the brink of crushing the rebellion, Nato launched air strikes against Libyan targets to "protect civilian lives". Air power saved the rebels and with further outside help they eventually made progress in their ambition to oust the Libyan leader. International support for Col Gaddafi drained away over the following weeks as the rebels gained official recognition from France and other nations.

Tripoli falls

23 August 2011

Six months after the protests began, Libya's rebels finally made it to Tripoli. With Nato air strikes having weakened Col Gaddafi's forces over many months, rebel soldiers entered the capital and soon overwhelmed his compound. It was the beginning of the end for Col Gaddafi, who continued to issue appeals for his supporters to fight on as he went to ground.

Killed in Sirte

20 October 2011

Col Gaddafi died after being caught by rebel forces in his home town of Sirte, a stronghold for loyalist fighters. News of his capture came soon after rebels claimed control of the town following weeks of fierce fighting. National Transitional Council (NTC) officials said Col Gaddafi was wounded in a gunfight and died of his injuries.

Warning: This timeline contains pictures some readers may find disturbing.

BBC links

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